VENTING... WANT YOUR OPINION....

LOOONG story sort of.... so I am a young mother (24) and I have my 2 year old Junebug and I also have an almost 8 year old brother. My brother loves to torment my son, and I am not getting any support from my family regarding this. My mom and dad and sister all say it is "brotherly" but I think it is downright abusive. Some examples: my brother will hit my son in the face with objects, push him down, smack him, etc., purposely takes things from him just to upset him. I finally snapped last time when he hit my son in the face with a purse and repeatedly played with a toy in front of him just to upset him. My whole family thinks I am over reacting to this, but my brother is not DISCIPLINED for any of his actions and everyone ignores it, yet they all act like I am stupid and crazy. I have made a point to them I am no longer visiting in order to protect my son, and I am treated like an outcast now. Maybe I have taken this too far?

Do you think this behavior is normal for a 2 year old & 8 year old, or is this abusive and am I right for keeping my son away?

My mom says this will toughen him up, but he can't defend himself, and I know my brother has done things to him when nobody is watching but obviously my son can't tell me what happens which is also very upsetting.

LOOONG story sort of.... so I am a young mother (24) and I have my 2 year old Junebug and I also have an almost 8 year old brother. My brother loves to torment my son, and I am not getting any support from my family regarding this. My mom and dad and sister all say it is "brotherly" but I think it is downright abusive. Some examples: my brother will hit my son in the face with objects, push him down, smack him, etc., purposely takes things from him just to upset him. I finally snapped last time when he hit my son in the face with a purse and repeatedly played with a toy in front of him just to upset him. My whole family thinks I am over reacting to this, but my brother is not DISCIPLINED for any of his actions and everyone ignores it, yet they all act like I am stupid and crazy. I have made a point to them I am no longer visiting in order to protect my son, and I am treated like an outcast now. Maybe I have taken this too far?

Do you think this behavior is normal for a 2 year old & 8 year old, or is this abusive and am I right for keeping my son away?

My mom says this will toughen him up, but he can't defend himself, and I know my brother has done things to him when nobody is watching but obviously my son can't tell me what happens which is also very upsetting.

It's abuse and it's ridiculous. An 8 year old is way too old and knows better than to torment a 2 year old like that. I wouldn't have it. If someone else's kid wants to torment mine, and the parents won't do anything about it, I will. Plain and simple. You need to step in.

It's abuse and it's ridiculous. An 8 year old is way too old and knows better than to torment a 2 year old like that. I wouldn't have it. If someone else's kid wants to torment mine, and the parents won't do anything about it, I will. Plain and simple. You need to step in.

I don't think your over reacting. I have a 8 year old step daughter and she would never do such a thing! Hitting is not acceptable for an 8 year old, maybe your 2 year old because there still learning. But I would be so mad as well that's not right how he's treating your lo, Idk he might be jealous? In the beginning my step daughter would take things from my Lo because she was jealous of the things my Lo has but we learned to spend a little extra time with her and give her some extra attention an she has been great. But I would maybe sit and talk with your brother because talking with my step daughter helped a lot there were things I didn't know she felt a certain way and it open my eyes to the way she felt. Hope things get better but you are deffinatly right.

I don't think your over reacting. I have a 8 year old step daughter and she would never do such a thing! Hitting is not acceptable for an 8 year old, maybe your 2 year old because there still learning. But I would be so mad as well that's not right how he's treating your lo, Idk he might be jealous? In the beginning my step daughter would take things from my Lo because she was jealous of the things my Lo has but we learned to spend a little extra time with her and give her some extra attention an she has been great. But I would maybe sit and talk with your brother because talking with my step daughter helped a lot there were things I didn't know she felt a certain way and it open my eyes to the way she felt. Hope things get better but you are deffinatly right.

I support you 100%You are doing the right thing for the development of your son. He does not need to be subjected to that kind of play/behaviour/abuse. Children only have the first 3 years of life to develop empathy towards others. If he spends time with this 8 year old and learns that that is how he should interact with others then he will just learn to repeat the same kind of actions to others later. Keep your son safe, happy and around kind people :)

I support you 100%You are doing the right thing for the development of your son. He does not need to be subjected to that kind of play/behaviour/abuse. Children only have the first 3 years of life to develop empathy towards others. If he spends time with this 8 year old and learns that that is how he should interact with others then he will just learn to repeat the same kind of actions to others later. Keep your son safe, happy and around kind people :)

I agree... I was thinking the exact same thing you were. If they can't control him, no visiting. They should at least acknowledge what he is doing is wrong. First thing that came to mind was....BULLYING. that's how it starts...

I agree... I was thinking the exact same thing you were. If they can't control him, no visiting. They should at least acknowledge what he is doing is wrong. First thing that came to mind was....BULLYING. that's how it starts...

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